The jurors in Galveston, about 50 miles southeast of Houston, gave each contract worker $10 million in punitive damages. Nine of the workers were also awarded between $5,000 and $10,000 for pain and suffering and medical expenses, while the 10th got more than $240,000.
The verdict came after 1 1/2 days of deliberations following a three-week trial.
In a brief statement, BP denied it had harmed any of the workers.
"We are shocked and outraged by today's verdict, and we will appeal," BP said. "The verdict, and punitive damages award in particular, is utterly unjustified, improper and unsupportable."
Tony Buzbee, the workers' attorney, said his clients were pleased with the jury's decision, adding he had approached BP before the trial and had offered to settle for $10,000 for each worker. BP rejected the proposal, he said.
"They tried to minimize it, attack the credibility of the workers," Buzbee said. "They simply would not admit that they had released something."
The refinery, about 30 miles southeast of Houston, was the site of a 2005 explosion that killed 15 people and injured 170
- the worst U.S. industrial accident since 1990.
The refinery has a history of fires, chemical releases and worker deaths.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, a group that investigated the 2005 blast, found BP fostered bad management at the plant and that cost-cutting moves by BP were factors in the explosion.
